Four Lions ~06/09/10~

[samdaman94]

Hey

Who will buy this? Personally, I absolutely loved it in the cinema and can't wait to own it. It's up there in my Top 5 of 2010 so far.

Whatabout you guys and gals?



Pre-order:
Four Lions

Here's some new art that Play.com has up - some kind of digi-packaging? :P


Play.com have changed the date to 30/08/2010

[pro-bassoonist]

Trailer:

https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=4529

Pro-B

[thewerepuppygrr]

Didn't get to see it at the cinema because they're only showing it in obscure places near me, but I've heard great things. From what I've read of the synopsis, it looks like something I'd enjoy - I like a bit of dark comedy. Also one of the actors - I forgot his name - is hilarious. Look up 'Post 9/11 Dance' on YouTube to see him in a similar context.

I will certainly blind buy this when it's a bit cheaper after release.

[markbr]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

Trailer:

https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=4529

Pro-B

Thank you for putting the trailer up, this looks so funny. I will be getting it when it comes out.

[adamhopelies]

I saw the film theatrically, and while the film is hilarious in parts, I actually found myself concluding that it was a whole lot sadder than it was funny. Its a great dissection of the way in which radicalism appeals to disillusioned or confused young muslims, and is pretty heart wrenching in parts.

Its definitely a film worth seeing, in fact I'd say it was a film the NEEDED seeing, but I don't think I'll be returning to it anytime soon. Thats not to say it isn't great, its one of the best I've seen this year, but its not the laugh riot that one might expect.

[samdaman94]

I can't wait to own it personally

[meehan]

Not quite the level of satire I expect from Chris Morris but good fun nonetheless.

Rubber Dingy Rapids!

[JayX]

Originally Posted by adamhopelies

I saw the film theatrically, and while the film is hilarious in parts, I actually found myself concluding that it was a whole lot sadder than it was funny. Its a great dissection of the way in which radicalism appeals to disillusioned or confused young muslims, and is pretty heart wrenching in parts.

Yeah, although I found the ratio of comedy:drama pretty much bang on. It was a lot darker than expected, the trailer/build up made it sound like it was a farce but the storylines involving his family especially were darker than expected. Found it excellent overall, and good to see Morris can deliver on the big screen.

[Le Grande Blu]

In-depth review of the Four Lions DVD and Blu Ray here:

http://www.cookdandbombd.co.uk/forum...?topic=25007.0

If you scroll down the posts, he mentions that the final BluRay packaging is identical to the DVD Digipack. The extras on this look great. Can't wait to pick this up on Friday!

[The Driver]

"ASTONISHINGLY FUNNY?"

Funny, how? Funny weird? funny unamusing?, funny badly written?, funny unlikeable story and characters?

I thought this was utter shit. I hated everything about it really and have no idea what the director was intending to say except have a looking at these stupid f***ing British-Asians (and other stupid, hopeless and unlikeable people from Britain and outside her waters).

I suppose I could try and analyse his heavy camera zooming and what he has to say about society but it's not worth my time or effort.

The only thing funny about this film is the packaging of the Blu-ray. So, funny design, not actually funny amusing.

Shit.

[Damoxuk]

lal each to there own, personally if you have a sense of Humour you'll laugh out loud at the farce of the story.

I think he was trying to say no matter what task it is, getting a bunch of guys to make a plan for anything becomes a **** up.

Chris Morris though has a distinct style so I wouldn't check out Brass Eye TV Series at all (especially the Special) if you don;t like this.

[Tchotchke]

I too found it a hoot. The gang are surprisingly endearing, which pays off with the uncompromising events of the third act.

I do enjoy Chris Morris, but he certainly isn't for everyone, especially The Driver!

[The Driver]

I loved Brass Eye. One of a very small handful of classic TV programmes.

No relation to this film though.

[also]

If I was to compare Four Lions to any other of Chris Morris' projects, I would say it is closest in tone to Nathan Barley. I really like both, but find them hard to watch.

Pretentious analysis follows:
What makes Morris unique is that he creates depictions of our society that at first seem easily mocked by us, the audience, but in which we are ultimately complicit. Who exactly are we rooting for in Four Lions? Who do we relate to?

In Nathan Barley, the critic is revealed to be as much of a pretentious phony as the pretentious phony. I think in Four Lions, the point is that the audience watching takes the place of the critic from Nathan Barley. It isn't just the terrorists who are the problem, it is everyone who sees the problem and feel themselves superior to it, not realizing they are part of what supports this system of destruction.

Morris has always been fixated on self supporting broken systems, usually centered around the media. I don't think Four Lions is very laugh out loud funny, but I think there are a lot of keen observations and social tragedy shaped like jokes.

[toddly6666]

Originally Posted by The Driver

Funny, how? Funny weird? funny unamusing?, funny badly written?, funny unlikeable story and characters?

I thought this was utter shit. I hated everything about it really and have no idea what the director was intending to say except have a looking at these stupid f***ing British-Asians (and other stupid, hopeless and unlikeable people from Britain and outside her waters).

I suppose I could try and analyse his heavy camera zooming and what he has to say about society but it's not worth my time or effort.

The only thing funny about this film is the packaging of the Blu-ray. So, funny design, not actually funny amusing.

Shit.

I agree. I'm glad I held off from blind-buying it since it had a really good trailer. It's a good thing I waited and just rented the movie. Painful and boring, and reminded me of the Ali G movie. The idea of the film is a lot better than how the film actually is.

[Immersion]

Originally Posted by MichaelB

I'm afraid that's the kind of sweeping generalisation that says far more about you than it does about the film - and it certainly doesn't suggest that you watched it especially closely.

Four Lions is actually one of the most incisive analyses I've seen in any medium (including serious news coverage) about the hopelessly muddled and conflicted mindset of British-born would-be jihadis. Many of the most ludicrous elements in the film were drawn from actual case studies - Morris spent years researching the script, and it really does show.

It also has far, far more in common with Brass Eye than you're making out - the presentational style is different, but the head-on assault on complacency of all kinds is clearly the work of the same man. The term "satire" has been massively diluted over the last few decades to the point where it seems to mean even the mildest piss-take, but Morris serves up the real thing in the authentic Swiftian tradition - he'll lull you into a false sense of security with easy laughs, and then wallop you with something that's much harder to process.

Whilst I loved Four Lions, I hadn't seen any of Morris' early TV work, and I recently picked up the DVDs of Jam, Brass Eye, and The Day Today. I now understand why I love Four Lions so much, and what a great comedian/director/writer Morris is. Jam took me a few episodes to get into, and I love dark/black comedy like Nighty Night, but Jam was like nothing I had ever seen before, so dark. Very atmospheric, and also felt like a bad dream, and I wasn't sure whether to laugh at certain points or not. One of the most unique pieces of television I have ever seen.

Does anyone know more about Morris' new piece of work:

Untitled Lee Atwater Project http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1709175/

I would love to see more film or TV from this guy.

[The Driver]

Rather amusing re-reading this thread and MichaelB's comments [for the first time].

His comments are just like the film, pretentious. Trying to add some sort of intellectual weight to a badly scripted, directed and produced film won't wash.

Middle class tosh to boot.


And it's not a film, it's an experiment like his best of television (which can only work in the television environment). Experiments very rarely work in movies and it fails here. It's virtually unwatchable.

[Le Grande Blu]

Originally Posted by The Driver

Rather amusing re-reading this thread and MichaelB's comments [for the first time].

His comments are just like the film, pretentious. Trying to add some sort of intellectual weight to a badly scripted, directed and produced film won't wash.

Middle class tosh to boot.


And it's not a film, it's an experiment like his best of television (which can only work in the television environment). Experiments very rarely work in movies and it fails here. It's virtually unwatchable.

Do you really have to be so unpleasant? MichaelB is one of the most informative and polite posters on this forum.

You, on the other hand, with your "Middle Class Tosh" line, sound like the average outraged Sun reader.

[Sig-gotyouth]

Originally Posted by The Driver

Rather amusing re-reading this thread and MichaelB's comments [for the first time].

His comments are just like the film, pretentious. Trying to add some sort of intellectual weight to a badly scripted, directed and produced film won't wash.

Middle class tosh to boot.


And it's not a film, it's an experiment like his best of television (which can only work in the television environment). Experiments very rarely work in movies and it fails here. It's virtually unwatchable.

Bit harsh mate. I concur with the poster previous to me in regard to trashing MichaelB. uncalled for.

film was brilliant in my opinion. hope to see more of this well thought-out satire.

Loved the film

[Yami]

Originally Posted by The Driver

Rather amusing re-reading this thread and MichaelB's comments [for the first time].

His comments are just like the film, pretentious. Trying to add some sort of intellectual weight to a badly scripted, directed and produced film won't wash.

Middle class tosh to boot.


And it's not a film, it's an experiment like his best of television (which can only work in the television environment). Experiments very rarely work in movies and it fails here. It's virtually unwatchable.

I hope that you apologise to MichaelB and to the community for those inflammatory, uncalled for comments. Opinion is opinion and just because you don't agree with him doesn't mean you can launch a personal attack. I'd encourage you to read some more of MichaelB's reviews, I at least thoroughly enjoy them.